A couple of questions come to mind as I browse through the news portals.

Earthquake

A couple of days ago we woke up to another natural disaster, this time an earthquake in Italy. 

As always happens, when a calamity hits so ‘close’ to home, in a country and a people we know and love so much, in a geographical location we may well have driven through or visited, it becomes a situation we  are unable to fathom. 

Most of us will move our heads and eyes upward and wait for an explanation as we witness so many children, adults and old people buried under a pile of dirt, a dwelling that meant their comfort and relief, the place where people would have raised their children, organised family celebrations and loved the persons dearest to them – when all of a sudden, in a handful of seconds, it all goes away. 

I’m no religious person, far from it, but I do subscribe to that part of the population that has an ounce of faith and draws from it in moments of darkness.  However I still cannot find solace and understanding that so many people lose so much – this beckons the question, ‘Why?’

Politicians

Last Saturday during my programme on Radju Malta, Ghandi xi Nghid I discussed with my panel what type of politicians we want. 

It seems that the political climate that is clasping this country and our political scene has never seemed more tribal.  On the one hand the Nationalist Party is in full force to persuade the voters that all or most is corrupt and its mission is to rid this country from the existing government.  On the other hand, the government is saying that there has never been a government with such brawny legislation to ensure that corruption is nipped in the bud.  Political commentators argue on and on regarding the government booboos; whether it’s the Premier Cafe’ saga, the Gaffarena debacle, the Panama scandal, the high rise concern, the exploitation of ODZ land and the many other ministerial slip-ups have managed to weaken the government and on the other hand question whether the Leader of the Opposition has what it takes to lead this country and be an alternative Prime Minister.

University

As we speak a lot of work is being done in preparation for the new academic year that is about to start. 

One question we keep getting from potential students as they apply for the innumerable courses being offered is whether the degree courses they are applying for will guarantee employment. I believe we need to shift this inclination.  It is true that less and less young people are engaging in a course of studies for the enjoyment that comes with studying.  More students are looking at studying with only the end result in mind.  Not too sure how we can strike a balance and avoid reducing knowledge simply as a commodity.

Bendy Buses

I use the tal-Balal road often. 

Every time I drive through that road I get so annoyed knowing that so many expensive vehicles are dumped in a scrap yard.  Yesterday I used Google Maps to try and add-up the number of infamous bendy buses that are being left to rot.  I counted some 80 of them lying there, now for more than three years and no one seems to claim responsibility for the bad deal.  To add insult to injury nothing seems to be done to try and sell them and there is no known effort to make sense of this shameful situation.   

How come this country is so brazen when it comes to the country’s wealth as if it doesn’t belong to us and the taxes we pay?

Alcohol

Drink driving is back on the agenda. 

Like most other things we do in this country it is reactive. After having witnessed so many accidents this last year we are now realising that our highway code, when it comes to drink driving, is inappropriate and weak. The sad thing about all of this is that this is only a small nudge at the real problem we have at hand.  The easy access to acquire alcohol from grocers and supermarkets, our culture that encourages alcohol consumption and an entertainment industry that has no discomfiture have brought chaos. The infrequent breathalyser tests, laid-back and blasé police officers make it increasingly difficult to get hold of this predicament.  We’ve had our share of accidents, what are we waiting for now?

Migrants

As I write this column, Italian naval ships and NGO groups are rescuing an estimated 3,000 migrants spread out on approximately 20 boats.  They have been located around 13 miles from Libya. 

It is absolutely terrible to witness these tragic events once again. 

Libya has been cleared of its dictator and most of his cronies but yet again no progress has been noted in the governance of this neighbouring country, indeed a stone’s throw away.  The situation is getting chaotic by the minute.  Where is the international community in all of this? This nation has been left to their own devices, managed by corruption, sleaze and bribery.

Evelyn

I was touched by the story reported on Newsbook of Evelyn Vella Brincat a woman who is battling a severe terminal cancer.  Her resilience and buoyancy in the face of such a challenging life situation is indeed inspirational. What fascinated me is her willingness to live on in-spite of the serious health issues she is constantly faced with. 

This brings to the fore another life story, this time of Joe Magro who feels that the degenerative disease he is faced with leaves hardly any hope his life will get any better and he would prefer to have the opportunity to terminate his life before the condition affects him any further. 

These two contrasting stories are narratives that merit our respect not judgement - contrasting positions around this debate are important arguments we need to make but not at the cost of hackneyed squabbles.